The Snow Fox

Summer Balls

As the vacation days began, Ethan and Willow found themselves flooing to Venus' home to spend a few weeks of break with her.

"Welcome to Frost Mansion!" Venus said, opening the large doors to her home. Her friends followed her in and she started to show them around.

"This is the library."

"Another one?!" Ethan cried, looking at the sleeves again.

Venus laughed. "We love to read, but our main library is the best." she said, walking over to two large french style doors. "Right here."

The room was stories tall, with white and gold framing around the dark wooden shelves, vines and fairy lights giving dim suncrest effects. Large windows separating the sections of shelves and books that lined the walls, letting in light from the outside.

Her friend's jaws dropped at the sight.

"This is more like a ballroom than a library!"

Venus laughed at Ethan's comment and showed them inside. She heard a bell ring and dturned to see Crystal flying towards them with a parcel.

"Some snacks." She was from the little note attached to the box. "Here let's eat."

The three friends are and laughed away, talking about their upcoming plans for the next school year or other vacation plans. Venus showed them the greenhouse soon after and Willow was elated to see her large backyard, perfect for quidditch practice. Ethan was amazed by her father's workshop of inventions and magical artifacts. Cornelius even showed them his latest invention, a magic compass that too the wearer where the thing they most desired was.

The three friends spent the rest of their weeks together, playing quidditch, baking, inventing, and in Ethan's case helping Willow and Venus design a dress for Venus. The two girls had some some purging to the ravenettes wardrobe and saw that many items no longer fit her, so Willow opted to make her a dress.

By the end of the two weeks the trio had gotten closer than ever and we're excited to see each other again at Diagon Alley.

"Don't forget to Owl!"

"Yea! And next time we can do break at my house!" Willow chimed, hugging her best friend and walking into the chimney. "Echo Cottage!"

Ethan followed suit and threw down his floo powder. "Whispering Meadow Farm!"

Venus waved her friends off and went to have lunch with her parents. She sat down at the table, book in hand.

"The Malfoys invited us to their annual ball tonight." Her mother said, collecting the plates after they finished eating.

"Oh." Venus replied blankly. "I will go get ready then."

"Ok Darling, remember, dress for yourself and no to please anyone."

"Of course mum." She said with a smile. Her mother always reinforced the best traits and morals in her.

Venus scurried upstairs and looked through her wardrobe. She quickly realized that she had outgrown many of her dresses and none of the tightly fitting ones would be appropriate for the event. She wondered what she could do, due to the limited time she had.

Then it dawned on her as she looked around her room. On a mannequin in the corner was an unfinished dress that Willow had been making for her. She rummaged around the stack of papers on her desk and pulled out the sketch they had decided on. She could finish the dress and wear it to the gala. Her mother walked in as she was finishing the hemming and kissed her forehead.

"Don't be too late dear."

"I know mum, I'm almost done."

Her mother looked over the dress and touched the skirt gently.

"You and Willow did an amazing job with the design, but I think it's missing a little sparkle. Just a little input." She commented with a wink and with that she left.

Venus held up the finally hemmed dress and stared at it. It was a beautiful sweetheart like with tulle dropping off her shoulders. The fabric soft and flowy. The corset back allowed for a structured bodice and for the skirt to dance around her while also supporting her as she had significantly grown in the chest department. The dress was a deep Slytherin green, the skirt different shades which added dimension to the skirt. But her mother was right. Something was missing. she traced the fabric with her fingertips and got an idea.

"Glacial Minima." She waved her hand and small pieces of ice appeared from the cup of water she had nearby. "Iaspis."

The small ice cubes became parted into multiple small diamond shapes. She waved her arms and the diamonds spread and settled into the fabric of the dress. She held it up again and it sparkled in the lowering sun as she moved it around. It was perfect. She quickly changed and did her hair and makeup with a wave of her wand. Venus played with her necklace as she scurried to the fireplace, the clack of her heels following her steps.

"Malfoy Manor!" She cried, throwing floo powder to her feet.